Monthly Archives: February 2023

Ground Breaking: Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada along with local and state officials officially broke ground on the Yonkers Public School District’s new Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School. To be dedicated to Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, the new school will serve 675 students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade and the local community.

Designed as a community school, the Justice School will feature multi-functional spaces that will be accessible evenings and weekends without the need to open the entire school building. Special amenities include a multi-purpose gymnasium and meeting room with stage; a full-sized basketball court and locker rooms; a cafeteria and meeting room with full kitchen; and a health suite with space for two exam rooms and a dental exam room.

“The Justice School is the first of its kind in our District and will be a model moving forward as we continue to rebuild our schools,” said Mayor Spano. “Our local schools are the heart of our neighborhoods and should be made accessible not only for educational enrichment, but also for the benefit of the families who live in the area. We are fortunate for the opportunity to dedicate a new school in recognition of the positive change Justice Sotomayor represents to our students and District.”

Learn More.

KG+D Receives Two Design Awards from the WHV AIA

KG+D is proud to have had two projects recognized at the AIA WHV 2021 Design Awards Program. We believe this award truly honors the communities that supported these dynamic projects. The Ossining Children’s Center a new 28,000sf, 3-story, purpose-built childcare facility was recognized with an Honor Award. The Wilton Family Y whose renovation included reconstruction of the central core of the building and addition a second story health/wellness center, was recognized with a Citation Award. Congratulations to the Ossining Children Center and Wilton Family Y for championing award winning design in your communities.

Inaugural KG+D Day of Service

An inaugural KG+D Day of Service! The KG+D team volunteered our time to give back to our local communities. We volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester to build shelving and organize a storage shed, paint picnic tables and benches, and complete landscaping at their main entrance. We received donations from Sherman Williams in Mount Kisco, Rosedale Nurseries and Ladle of Love. Thank you to our team members for your hard work and thank you to our local businesses for your support!

KG+D Receives Three Design Award from WHV AIA

KG+D is honored to have had three projects recognized by the AIA WHV 2019 Design Awards Program which was held at Le Chateau, a KG+D project and former award recipient. The firm was awarded Special Mention for Excellence in Historic Preservation for our work with SUNY Purchase College, a Citation Award for our planning work for a new Golf Learning Center + Driving Range and an Honor Award for our work with Scarsdale Public Schools. We are honored to have been a part of these award-winning partnerships!

Pelham UFSD Opens the New Hutchinson Elementary School

Dr. Cheryl Champ, Supterintendent, Susan Davidson, KG+D Director of Interior Design, Russell Davidson, KG+D President, and Jessica DeDomenico, School Board President

The KG+D team is proud to have collaborated with the Pelham Union Free School District and the Pelham community to develop this new next generation elementary school.

The 68,0000sf community Hutchinson Elementary School has a central learning commons and MakerSpace surrounded by two floors of flexible classroom space with break out “front porch” space and adjacent small collaboration “pods” that extend learning and collaboration beyond the classroom. The design incorporated playful colors, light fixtures, acoustic panels and recessed nooks to inspire and relate to the young students that will occupy the building. The learning commons, gym and cafeteria are configured together in order to allow for community access after school hours and during the summer without compromising the security of the classroom areas. Outdoor spaces include a kindergarten play area, student garden and outdoor dining and gathering space. On the site of the former elementary school are new athletic fields and a play space.

The building was designed to be equivalent to LEED Silver Standards.

Learn More.

Putnam Valley CSD Opens New Health and Wellness Center

Congratulations to the Putnam Valley Central School District on the opening of their new Health and Wellness Center at Putnam Valley High School. KG+D is proud to be a part of the team that actualized the 14,000sf flexible learning space that includes (6) collaborative workstations and an indoor turf field. The facility will be used be used by the athletic and academic departments support the District’s goal of providing programs that balance all aspect of learning.

Learn More.

Greenwich Public Schools Breaks Ground on Cardinal Stadium Project

Congratulations to Greenwich Public Schools for breaking ground yesterday on the new bleacher system for Cardinal Stadium.

Board of Education member Joe Kelly described the existing bleachers as an ‘old friend’ and spoke with excitement about a ‘new friend’ on the horizon. KG+D is proud to be a part of bringing the Greenwich community a ‘new friend’ for many years to come.

Learn More.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School

KG+D in collaboration with Yonkers Public Schools has designed a new 95,000sf community school, the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School. The building, which is currently under construction, will house grades Pre-K through 8th grade and include spaces for art science, special projects, dual language curriculum, and computer science. The physical education wing, which includes a gym and stage, is designed to function as a stand-alone community center after school and on the weekends. The nurse’s office has been specifically enlarged and located near a separate entrance so it can function as a community health clinic after school and on the weekends.

Wolf Conservation Center

KG+D originally started working with the Wolf Conservation Center to develop a detailed Master Plan for campus additions and alterations. Collaboratively, we developed schematic design options for a new visitor’s center, hillside amphitheater, addition to the caretaker’s house and a future maintenance barn. The Master Plan has also developed design solutions for increased parking, improved vehicular and bus traffic and the addition of camping platforms. The overall goal of the project is to improve the visitor experience and better serve the patrons and school districts that utilize the center’s facilities. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts by other firms to execute the new visitor center, KG+D was brought back on to redesign the project and get it back on budget. It is currently moving forward and in the approvals process.

Westchester County, Merestead Mansion

The completed restoration work included slate tile roof and copper Yankee gutter replacement as well as flat seam zinc coated roof repair, all painted wood trim, exterior window and door restoration, balcony balustrade restoration, brick veneer and limestone cleaning and restoration, and terracotta tile patio replacement. The project also included stormwater management around perimeter of the former residence. Design work to restore the interior including floor/wall/ceiling interior finishes as well as mechanical, electrical and fire protection completed for future restoration. Collaborated with Westchester County Parks, DPW, and HPAC.

The Premier Collection, LLC

KG+D planned and designed this new sales and services facility for The Premier Collection/BMW and provided services to outfit two temporary facilities including the company’s Bedford Sales Center and Mount Kisco Service Center. The project included a 12,000sf showroom, 12,000sf corporate offices and 28,000sf service space.

Barile Gallagher Associates

KG+D collaborated with BGA on the adaptive reuse of a former Pizza Hut into a multi-use facility that includes office space on the second floor and a restaurant space, Southern Table, on the first floor. The office space includes open floor plan, conference rooms, kitchen and lounge space and balcony seating. The building also utilizes super-insulated envelope, large north-facing windows for daylighting and views, LED lighting, radiant floors, high-efficiency VRF HVAC, and a single sloped south facing roof with a solar array.

Town of Bedford, Bedford Hills Community House

Following a comprehensive facilities assessment process, KG+D collaborated with the Bedford Hills Community House to complete various capital improvement projects throughout the center. Projects include the addition of an elevator, HVAC improvements, window, doors and roof replacement, site improvements, flooring replacements, new lighting, kitchen and bathroom renovations, renovate conference room, replace stairs and complete electrical system upgrade. The project goal is to assist the Town of Bedford in continuing to maintain and restore the property and facility to allow it to continue to be a distinctive part of the Bedford Hills community.